Gasoline gun



July 31, 1923.

E. M. THOMAS GASOLINE GUN Filed Oct. 21. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N n n III/27177702270 WITNESSES o Wfiafi I N V EN TOR. 1? 76m. A

A T T ORNE YS.

- July 31, 1923.

E. M. THOMAS GASOLINE GUN Filed Oct. 21. 1.922 2 Sheets Sheet 2 17: //0m0 6 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES Patented July 31, '1923.

EMORY M. THOMAS, F BUCKNER, MISSOURI;

GASOLINE GUN.

Application filed October 21, 1922. Serial No. 888,004.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. EMORY M. THOMAS, citizen of the United States, residin at Buckner, in the county of Jackson and tate of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gasoline Guns, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is a gasoline gun and has for the primary object thereof, the production of a device adapted to be carried in the pocket, and having means for discharging a combustible fluid therefrom such as gasoline or the like, this combustible fluid adapted to be ignited in a manner hereinafter described whereby a sheet of flame may be directed towards a burglar or highwa man in case the owner or user of the evice is assaulted or held up.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an article of the above nature that is simple of construction, com pact in form, inexpensive of manufacture and efficient in operation.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in corn nection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein Figure 1is a side elevational view of a gun constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2--is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1, a portion of the same being set forth in elevation.

Fi re 3-is an enlarged detail cross sectionfi view of a portion of the gun, the same being fragmentarily shown, and

Figure 4is a transverse sectional view upon the line 4.4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

With particular reference to the several views, there is shown a longitudinally extending fluid barrel or cylinder 1 closed at its front end 2, and open at its rear end 3, a portion of the barrel at the rear end being screw threadpd as shown for screw threadedly receiving a cap 4. The upper surface of the barrel or cylinder 1 is provided with 7 1y tendin spaced sights 5 resembling the sights generally found on revolvers and guns.

lFormed as an integral portion of the barrel or cylinder 1 is a lon 'tudinally extendin rib portion 6 upon t 0 bottom wall thereo this rib portion being so formed as to govide a handle 7 and trigger guard 8. ositioned for sliding movement within the said cylinder is a piston 8 carried by the usual piston rod 9. Surrounding'the said rod 9 and between the adjacent walls of the piston 8 and cylinder cap 4 is a relatively strong helical ring 10 for normalto force t wardly within the cylinder. The rod 9 extends through a central opening in the cap '4, and has rigid connection with a reciprocating rectan lar rod member 11 hereinafter more fu 1y described. The connection between the piston rod 9 and the rod 11 is in the form of a rectangular plate 12 having a pair of finger openings 13 therein for the reception of the fingers of the user of the n for retracting both the piston rod 9, and the other rod 11.

As more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, the rod 11 is slidably received within a longitudinally extending groove 14 of the dependin portion 6 formed upon the barrel or cylin er 1. he upper surface of the sliding rod 11 is channeled as at 15 for a portion of its length, and formed within the forward portion of this channel are rack teeth 16, which rack teeth engage similar teeth upon a gear wheel 17 mounted for rota movement within the outer end of the epending portion being suitably channeled as shown in Fi 2 and 3 for receiving this gear whee therein. Also positioned for rotary movement within this channeled portion of the depending web 6 is another relative smaller gear wheel 18 having continuous mesh with the said gear 17. Formed as an integral part of the last mentioned wheel 18 and adapted to rotate therewith is another wheel 19 havin its outer periphery suitably rou hened as s own in Figure 3, which roug ened wheel is adapted for frictional contact with a piece of flint or other spark producing material, convenientl received within a hollow nipple 21 ormed upon the lower adjacent (and of the closed end wall 2 of the cylin- Centrally formed within the closed end c said piston for-' trigger 28 is the same having engagement with a por- 2 of the cylinder 1 is an outlet 22 surrounded at its outer edge by a hollow screw threaded nipple 23 for receiving therein a disk of waxed paper or the like 24 to be there retained by a screw threaded ca 25 for effectively sealing a combustible uid within the cylinder 1.

A portion of the underside of the sliding rod.or bar 11 is toothed as at 26 forming a plurality, of teeth thereon for en agement with one end of a spring actuated 0g member 27 carried by the depending web 6 of the barrel 1, for retaining the piston 8 retracted within the cylinder 1 when the same is rearwardly moved within ,the cylinder. For releasing the said dog 27 from the rack portion 26' of the rod 11, for consequently allowing the iston 8 to move forwardly within the cylinder, pressed forward by the helical spring 10, a pivoted spring pressed rovided, the free ortion of tion of the dog 27 when a pull is exerted upon the said trigger.

In view of the above description, it will be readily understood that the piston member 8 is primarily drawn backwards within the cylinder for imparting a similar rearward movement to the rod 11 at which time the said cylinder ma be filled with gasoline or other combustib e fluid, through the nipple 23 upon the end wall 2 thereof. Through the racked surface 26 of the rod 11 engaging the pivoted dog 27, this piston will be maintained in a retracted position, at which time, the sealing disk 24 may be secured to the nipple 23 for elfectivel sealing the liquid wt in the cylinder. hould occasion ever arise to use the n, all that is neoemry is to exert a p 1 upon the trigger 28, which will release the dog 27 from the rod 11 allowing the piston to move forwardly within the c linder in view of the coiled spring 10, w ich action breaks the sealing disk for allowing the liquid to escape, at which time, it is ignited by sparks occasioned from the rotation of the gear wheels 17 and 18 and also the roughened wheel 19' frictionally engaging the piece of flint or the like 20, this action creating sparks at the outlet end of the cylinder.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readil apparent, I desire to have it understoo that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such chan es may be resorted to when desired as all within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. In a device of the class described, a combustible fluid chamber, a sprin pressed plunger therein adapted for expe ling the fluid from the chamber, and means operable by the action of the plunger for ignitin the fluid as it is expelled from the cylm er.

2. In a device of the class described, a combustible fluid cylinder, a spring pressed plun er within the cylinder for ex elling the guid therefrom, means positione upon the outlet end of the cylinder for sealing the liquid therein, when the plunger is in a retracted position, said means adapted to be disrupted by a forward movement of the piston within the cylinder, and means for igniting the fluid as the same is discharged therefrom.

3. In a device of the class described, a combustible fluid chamber,a spring presse plunger within the chamber adapted for discharging the liquid therefrom when the same moves forwardly therein, a sliding rod member externally of saidcylinder, the movement of which is controlled by the movement of said piston, and means at the outlet end of said cylinder for igniting the fluid as it is dischar d there rom, said means being operable y the movement of said sliding r0 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EMORY M. THOMAS. 

